By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – An agreement approved by a Montgomery federal judge will allow subject matter tests for new Alabama teachers to resume in 2006. The agreement ends 20 years without the tests. The testing agreement was approved Tuesday by Federal Judge Myron Thompson. It was worked out by the state Department of Education, Alabama State University and present and former ASU students who challenged the state's testing methods, saying they discriminated against blacks. The agreement now requires new teachers seeking certification in Alabama as well as experienced teachers seeking certification in a new area to take the Praxis Two exam in their subject matter. State Superintendent Joe Morton says the state plans to start giving the tests in early 2006, and they will apply to college graduates starting this spring. Alabama certifies between 6,000 and 8,000 new teachers every year.